Intel collaborated with Dutch quantum computing company QuTech, and have revealed a programmable two-qubit quantum computer that run on a silicon chip.
Here, the researchers used a special type of quantum bit (or "qubit") called spin qubits to run two different quantum algorithms on a silicon chip.
Quantum computers are the development to improve, if not replace, traditional computing method. They are supposed to be capable of doing things no ordinary computers can, such as computing complex molecular simulations or allowing unhackable communications.
Quantum computing is still under heavy development. It's fragile and consumes a lot of resources.
But as Intel and QuTech were able to put quantum capabilities into a silicon chip, this breakthrough could change that.
Other quantum systems rely on superconductive materials and near perfect-zero temperatures. But here, the spin qubit doesn’t require either because it’s an electron that has been agitated by microwave pulses.
According to a white paper published by the team:
At the moment of revelation, the two-qubit system is still experimental. While the researchers have proven the concept works by running quantum algorithms on the devices, the technology still requires more experimentation before it can be developed into a range where it can be more powerful and usable than regular computers.
